Guinea disagrees with FIFA over moving African Cup to June

AP

CONAKRY, Guinea (AP) — Guinea sports minister Domani Dore has contradicted FIFA by saying the 2023 African Cup of Nations cannot be moved back to June to accommodate the re-scheduled 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Dore said there was no chance the African championship can be played in the middle of the year because it was monsoon season in the West African host country.

FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said last week that the Confederation of African Football agreed to postpone its championship, because a 2022 World Cup in November and December was too close to the 2023 African Cup, normally held in January and February.

Guinea's sports minister also said CAF had not informed it of any switch in dates for the African Cup.

"There is no question of organizing the 2023 CAN (African Cup of Nations) in Guinea in June," Dore said. "It is the rainy season. It is raining heavily, and you cannot play. CAF cannot consider postponing this (the 2023 African Cup) without talking to the Guinean authorities."

Valcke said CAF would have to make the concession so clubs didn't lose their African players for the World Cup and then — just two weeks later — the African Cup.

"The African confederation has automatically, and I would say nicely, agreed that they will not organize in January '23," Valcke said last week in Qatar, as FIFA announced the 2022 World Cup months.

CAF said it would back FIFA's recommendations without giving any detail on new dates for the 2023 African Cup.

Guinea's position could force another re-think by FIFA and CAF. The rainy season in Guinea normally runs from June to November.